Evidence mapPaperPMID 42021207Full record

ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2026

Longitudinal metabolomics reveals dynamic associations of trimethylamine N-oxide and precursors with the progression of gestational diabetes.

Yuwen Wu, Zheng Ni, Shuo Liu, Sijia Fang, Yue Li, Qiuhan Lu, Dewei Ye, Shufei Zang, Guozhi Jiang

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Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

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9 authors.

Yuwen Wu *School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Zheng Ni *Institute of Metabolic Science, Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Shuo LiuSchool of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Sijia FangSchool of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Yue LiDepartment of Endocrinology, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University, 801 Heqin Road, Shanghai, 200240, China.
Qiuhan LuSchool of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Dewei YeInstitute of Metabolic Science, Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Shufei ZangDepartment of Endocrinology, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University, 801 Heqin Road, Shanghai, 200240, China. sophiazsf@fudan.edu.cn.
Guozhi JiangSchool of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. jianggzh5@mail.sysu.edu.cn.

Funding

Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation 2024A1515013260Key discipline project of Shanghai Pudong New Area Health Commission PWZxk2022-22Natural Science Research Funds of Minhang District, Shanghai 2021MHZ028Program of Science and Technology Cooperation with Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan 22410760500Shenzhen Science and Technology Program JCYJ20220530145210024
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTrimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and its precursor metabolites are strongly linked to glucose and lipid metabolic disorders, yet their dynamic roles and overall effects in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have not been clarified. We aimed to explore the dynamic patterns of change and the overall effects of the six TMAO-related metabolites (including Trimethylamine N-oxide, Trimethylamine, choline, L-carnitine, betaine and creatinine) in relation to GDM.

methodsA total of 180 serum samples from a nested case–control study were analyzed via targeted metabolomics covering early, middle, and late pregnancy. Conditional logistic regression, Bayesian kernel-machine regression (BKMR), weighted quantile sum regression (WQS) and quantile g-computation regression (QGC) were employed to characterize the dynamic associations and mixture patterns of TMAO-related metabolites with GDM risk.

resultsGDM patients exhibited progressive decreases in L-carnitine, alongside elevations in choline and trimethylamine. Early-pregnancy L-carnitine levels were positively associated with GDM. BKMR showed positive, U-shaped and negative associations between TMAO-related metabolites and GDM in three trimesters, respectively. L-carnitine and trimethylamine demonstrated positive associations with GDM during the first trimester. Choline exhibited a shift from negative to positive associations and showed potential interaction patterns with L-carnitine in the second and third trimesters. WQS showed L-carnitine and trimethylamine presenting higher weight in the first and third trimester, respectively. QGC further validated a mixture effect in the third trimester, primarily attributed to trimethylamine and choline.

conclusionsThe associations of L-carnitine, trimethylamine and choline with GDM demonstrated dynamic temporal patterns throughout pregnancy.These findings may provide insight into trimester-specific metabolic variation in GDM, but should be considered exploratory and require validation in larger cohorts.

Indexed as

Diabetes, GestationalMetabolomicsMethylaminesAdultBayes TheoremBetaineBiomarkersCarnitineCase-Control StudiesCholineCreatinineDisease ProgressionFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesPregnancyBetaineBiomarkersCarnitineCholineCreatinineMethylaminestrimethylaminetrimethyloxamineBayesian kernel-machine regressionCholineGestational diabetes mellitusL-carnitineSerum metabolomicsTrimethylamine oxide

Identifiers

PMID42021207
PMCPMC13235132

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.